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GophTrac -- A PC Gopher Server Directory Manager

by Rod Potter, York University, Canada

This is a beta version of GophTrac, a simple (I hope) front end database application for creating and managing GINFO files for the Ka9Q PC Gopher server. If there is interest, this application could be easily adapted to work with Gunter Hille's server.

Why? ---- Well, there is already a nice front end for the Mac Gopher server and my programming experience and tools are limited to the PC. I don't know if anything exists for other platforms, yet. I know a few people who would like to see a Unix front end.

Disclaimer ---------- This is BETA Software. I've been using it to manage a simple non- production gopher server and it seems to work fine. You may not agree. Since this program reads and writes GINFO files, you are strongly advised to backup your hard drive -- or at least experiment on a non-production system. I take no responsibility.

Installation ------------- 1) Make a directory on your hard drive called "GOPHTRAC"

2) Copy all of the files in this archive to the GOPHTRAC Directory

Configuration ------------- GophTrac needs to know where your gopher server resides. Typically this will be "C:\GOPHER" or "D:\GOPHER". The program also needs to know your local machine name and the default PORT you use for your Gopher server (usually 70).

To configure these parameters, run GophTrac and select the Maintenance/Configure menu:

1) Run GophTrac by typing "GOPHTRAC" at the DOS command line.

2) Use the PC arrow keys or type "M" to select the Maintenance menu. Then select the Configure menu.

3) Plug in the requested information.

Using GophTrac -------------- GophTrac tries to manage your GINFO files in a number of ways:

a) When you process a new directory (that has no GINFO file) it will create a working database (GOPHTRAC.DBF) which contains that directory's file names, default machine names and port numbers. GophTrac's Editing and Browsing functions let you correct and fill in these details.

b) If there is already a GINFO file in the selected directory, GophTrac will build the working database (as above) and compare it with the existing GINFO file. This information will be merged into a new database (GINFO.DBF) so you can edit it.

c) If you have ADDED files to a gopher directory, GophTrac will create a GINFO entry. If you have removed file(s) from a gopher directory, GophTrac will remove the corresponding GINFO entry when it builds the working database.

d) When a working GINFO.DBF database has been edited, GophTrac will prompt you to see if you want to UPDATE that directory's GINFO file. The program simply outputs the appropriate fields to rebuild the GINFO file.

Processing Directories ---------------------- GophTrac lets you work with one directory at a time. Select the Directory command and use the up and down arrow keys to select a gopher directory. Press Enter so see the files in the directory. Press enter again to begin processing. This is what the program does.

A) EXISTING DIRECTORY (Has a GINFO File) - Imports the GINFO file into GINFO.DBF - Imports all files names into GOPHTRAC.DBF - Compares them - Adds/removes file entries from the GINFO database as necessary - Let's you browse and edit this database - Asks for your blessing to rebuild the GINFO file

This version does not understand DIRECTORY items. If there are type 1 items in an existing GINFO file, GophTrac will not touch them.

B) NEW DIRECTORY (No GINFO File) - Creates a bare bones GINFO.DBF file based on files on the directory - Lets you browse and edit this database - Asks for your blessing to build a new GINFO file

Again, since the program does not know what a directory is, it will ignore them when it creates the new GINFO file. This will be fixed soon.

Futures ------- As I said, this is Beta. This serves my purposes, but I'd be interested in some feedback before going further.

a) GophTrac only understands Type 0 objects (files). It does not yet capture and create GINFO entries for directories or other objects.

b) Order. I need to add an ORDER field, so that items can be prioritized.

c) A File Manager. It would be nice to be able to use GophTrac to Copy/Move/Delete files within the Gopher tree.

d) Windows/Windows NT versions. Maybe.

That's about it. Suggestions/criticisms would be appreciated:

Rod Potter, rodp@orion.yorku.ca Computing and Communications Services York University